Friction-clutch.



PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

A. MASTER.

FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB.4. 1907.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

Hllllllllllllln N Q A PATENTEJ) AUG. 20 1907.

A'. MASTER. FRICTION GLUTGH.

APPLICATION mm) MBA. 1907.

3 SHEETS SHBBT 2v PATENTED AUCFZC, 1907.

I A.- MASTER. FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLIUATION FILED PEB.4. 1907 3 SHBETSSHEET 3.

PATENT OFFICE. 1

- JALBERT MASTER, orv CHICAGO, ILLIINOVIS.

" FRICTION-GLUTCHQ No. sssgset.

To all 'whomit mag concern: v Be it known that I, ALBERT Mxsrnn, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State oflllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which I do declare the 'iollowing to be a specification.

Tlie present invention seeks to provide a simple, durable and efficient construction of friction clutch and the invention consists in the featin'cs of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointedout in the appended clairns.-. I

In the drawings, Figure l is a View partially in side elevation and partially in section of the clutch "with the parts in closed position. Fig. 2 is a face view of the clutch with parts broken away to show its construction. Fig. 3 is a detail View taken in section on the line 3 3'0r Fig. 1., sectional portion ol Fig. .1 showing the parts of the v clutch in open position. Fig. 51's detail section on the line 5'5 of Fig. 2 Fig. {Sisa view similar to Fig. 4 showing the modified form of theelutchl In the accompanying drawingsthe improved clutch is showh with its members mounted on two shafts ar-- ranged in line for connecting and disconnecting such shafts. It will of course be understood that the clutch may be used to connect and disconnect a shaft to a pulley or gear loosely mounted thereon, or in any of the ways in which a friction clutch of this character is commonly employed. i

J. and 2 indicate the shafts arranged in axial alinement with "their inner ends abutting.- Clutch mem-- her 3 is disk or wheel shaped and is provided with a hub portion 4 connected by a key'5, or in any other suitable manner to the shaft 1. The clutch member 3 is provided at its periphery with a laterally extending, overhanging part or flange-6, the inner face of which (as clearly shown in Figs. land 2) is provided with a series of axially extending, dove-tailed grooves or guide ways 7. A circular series of friction blocks are carried bythe clutch Ineinher 3 by means of lugs engaging the dove-tailed grooves or guide-ways 7', so that the friction blocks are supported irom theoverhanging part or flange 6 but are free to slide or shift independently thereon in axial direction. i i r In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4the friction blocks are made or wood and each is formed of separate segmental sections 8 secured to the opposite sides ofa segmental supporting plate 9. The segmental supporting plates 9 are arranged in radial planes and at thcirouter edges are provided with laterally extending lugs 10 which correspond in shape to and engage the dovetailed grooves or guide ways 7 of the clutch member 3. In this .way the circular series of separate friction blocks (four in number in the form shown) are sup- Specification of Iletters Patent. Application filed February 4,1907. stun No. 355,555- I V i Fig. 4 is a view similar to the Patented Aug. so, 1907.

ported upon the clutch member 3 and rotate with it, but may be shifted independently of one another on the clutch member 3 in axial direction. The blocks 8 are preferably V-shaped in section so that their outer I working faces are inclined at an acute angle to the axis of the clutch. Each plate 9 for supporting the wooden friction blocks 8 is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with two lugs 10 engaging two of the corresponding grooves 7 in the flange 6 so that the plates 9 and blocks supported thereby may slide in axial direction without side strain or twis 1 The segmental supporting plates 9 are provided at their endsand on opposite sides with laterally offset lugs 11 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which are substantially triangular in shape and against which the ends of the wooden blocks 8 abut and the blocks-are secured to the plates by bolts or rivets 12 ,-the heads and washers on 6 the friction blocks 14 themselves are formed of cast metal are hollow as shown, and the lugs 10 for engaging the guide-grooves 7 of the clutch member 3 are preferably castin piece therewith, as indicated.

The second clutch member comprises a pair of circular jaws 1 5 and 16 arranged on opposite sides of the circular series of friction blocks and having grooved working faces with flaring side walls to snugly fit the if-shaped working-faces of the blocks. The annular jaws 15 and 16 are mounted upon disks or web plates 17 having central hub portions 18 which, in. the form shown, fit snugly .upon the shaft 2. The jaws are connected to the shaft 2 to rotate therewith by means of a key 19 (see Fig. 5) or in other suitable manner. The-jaw 16 is free "to slide upon the shaft 2 but, preferably, the jaw 15 is secured in place thereon by a set screw 20, as shown in' Fig. 5. The jaws l5 and 16 are relatively shifted to grip the friction blocks by a series of toggle mechanisms operated by a sliding sleeve 21. There are iouroi these toggle mechanisms in the form illustrated, and they are alike in construction, Each comprises a rod orlink 2,.2arranged at its inner. end between a pair of lugs 23. on the web portion of the'jaw 15 and pivoted theretoby a crosspin 24; The links extend outwardly in axial direction through openings 25 in the disk poi tions or Web plates 17 of the jaws. The outer end of each link 22 is arranged between a pair of bell'cranks 26 and is pivoted to the angle of the bell cranks by a crosspin 27. The inner short arms of the bell cranks 26 are arranged between lugs 28 (see 1, and 3) on the web portion of the jaw 16 and arepivoially con-- nected to the lugs by short pins 29 held in place in the lugs by set screws 30. The upper or outer arms of the bell cranks are arranged between the upper ends of a pair of links 31 and are pivotally connected thereto by a cross pin 32. The inner ends of the links 31 are arranged on opposite sides of a series of radial lugs or abutments 33 on the inner endofthe sleeve 21 and are pivotally connected to the lugs 33 by cross pins 34. The open position of the'clutch is .shownin Fig. 4. The

i sleeve 21 is shown as provided with an annular groove 35 so that it maybe shifted axially on the shaft 2 by means of a yoke lever or in anyother suitable manner. When u the sleeve is shifted inwardly to move the parts of the clutch to closedposition shown in Fig. 1, the upper arms of the bell cranks 26 and the links 31 are substantially line and the lower arms of the bell cranks and the links 22 are substantially in line so that the jawsare forced "together upon the friction blocks by what maybe termed a double toggle mechanism, so that they may be brought to bear upon the blocks with" a large amount of pressur'e a'nd the parts of the clutch are locked in position bythe double toggle lock so that it cannot be forced open orslip.-

liean's are preferably provided foradjusting the operating mechanism so that the relative shift of the clutch jaws may be regulated, as desired. For this purpose, the outer end of each link 22 is provided with a slot 36 and the cross pin 27 which pivotally connects the links to'the bell cranks, is arranged within this slot.

A shoe 37 (see Fig. 3) within the slot 36 is provided with a semi cylindrical face engaging the pin and an adjusting screw 38 threaded through the end of the link 22 bears upon the shoe 37 so that the position of the pin 27 may be adjusted within the slot 36 to vary the throw of the toggle mechanism and take up any wear on the parts. A. set nut' 39 on the screw 38 holds the parts in adjusted position.

By providing the series of friction bldcks having oppositelydisposed V-shaped iaces, with the correspondingly shaped oppositely disposed grooved jaws and by mounting the'series ofblocks so that they may shift independently of one another in axial direction, the jaws ill? are broughtito bear with great accuracy upon the blocks so tlia't the clutch provides for a maximum amount of operative gripping surface,'and for this reason is ex trein ely eflici'ent. Moreover, with the arrangement shown, the blocks may be very readily removed from necessary to disconnect the shifting toggle mechanism,

positioniin the clutch for repairs or renewals. It is only "'ipon the'outer edge of the flange 6 of the clutch momher 3 and projects over the operating parts of the clutch so as to form a receptacle in the bottom part of which oil may be placed so that in operation, the parts run in oil. As stated,v this form of clutch is especially designed ior extremely high speeds where the wooden blocks could not be safely employed on account of the possibility of setting fire to the same by the friction deyeloped between the blocks and thev jaws.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction set forth without departing from the essentials of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A friction clutch comprising a member having a series of axially extending guide grooves or ways, a circular series of friction blocks having lugs engaging and sliding in said grooves or ways, said blocks being independently shiftabie in axial direction upon said clutch member and a second clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed jaws and means for shifting said jaws to grip said friction blocks, substantially as described.

2. A friction clutch comprising a member having an overhanging; flange that is provided on its inner face with a series of axially extending guide grooves or ways, a circular series of separate friction blocks arrungedwithin shi l flange and having projecting lugs engaging said grooves or ways, said blocks being independently shiftable in axial direction upon said clutch member and a second I clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed jaws and means for relatively shifting said jaws to engage said blocks, substantially as described.

.l. A friction clutch comprising a member having an overhanging part that is provided on its inner face with axially extending, dovetailed guide ways, a series of friction blocks within said overhanging part having projecting lugs corresponding in shape with and engaging saiddovetailed guideways to support said blocks in position while permitting the axial movement thereof, said blocks being independently supported and independently shiftable in axial direction upon said clutch member and a second clutch member comprising a pair oi oppositely disposed jaws and means for relatively shifting said jaws to grip said series of blocks between them, substantially as de scribed.

4. A friction clutch comprising a member having an'ofifset portion provided with a-series of axially extending guide ways, a series of friction blocks having projecting lugs engaging and sliding in said guide ways anda second clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed jaws for engugingsaid blocks, said blocks being independcnfly shifiable in axial direction and having oppositely arranged V-shaped working; faces and said jaws having correspondingly shaped grooved working faces for engaging the V-shaped faces of said blocks and toggle mechanism for relatively shifting said jaws.

5. A friction clutch comprising a member having an overhanging circular flange provided on its inner face with a series of axially extending dove-tailed g iide ways, a clrcular series of independent friction blocks having projecting lugs correspondingly shaped with and slldably en gaging said guide ways; said blocks being independently shiftable in axial direction and having oppositely disposed V-shaped working faces and a second clutch member comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, said jaws having oppositely disposed circular grooves with flaring wollsshaped to engage said blocks, and toggle mechanism 'ior relatively shifting said jaws, substantially as described.

6. A iriction clutch comprising a disk-shaped member having an overhanging flange provided on its inner face with axially extending guide-ways, a series of separate segmcntal block supports having projecting lugs slidabiy en;

gaging the guide-ways of said flange,said block supports being independently shiftable in axial direction upon said iiang'dwooden blocks secured to the opposite sides of said block supports, and a second clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed jaws arranged to engagesaid blocks and means tom-relatively shifting said jaws, substantially as described."' i

7. A. friction clutch comprising a disk-shaped member 1 having an overhanging flangeprovlded on its inner face with axially extending guide ways, a series of separate segmental block supports having projecting lugs slldably 3.40 engaging the guide ways of said flange said block supports being independently slilftuble in axial direction upon said .flange and having wooden blocks secured to th'e.0pposlte ,7

sides thereof, said blocks having oppositely arranged V- shaped working faces and a second clutch member compris lug a pair of jaws having grooved working faces with flaring Walls shaped to slidably euguge said Vshaped blocks and toggle echanism's for relatively shifting said jaws, substantially as described.

8. A friction clutch comprising a member, an overhanging portion provided witlna scries of axially extending guide ways, a series of sepai te block supports having projecting lugs engaging and sliding in said guide ways, said block su;.ports being independently shit'tnble in axial direction upon said overhanging portion, blocks secured to said supports and a second clutch member comprising oppositely disposed jaws for engaging said blocks and means for relatively shitting said jaws, substantially as described.

9. A friction clutch comprising a member having a circular flange omits periphery that is provided on its inner face with axially extending guide ways, a series of sepu rate segmental supporting plates each having two or more lugs on its periphery for slidably engaging said guide ways, said' supporting plates being independently shiitable in axial direction upon said flange, wooden blocks secured to the opposite sides of said supporting plates and a second clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely di. nosed ,in s for engaging said blocks and toggle mechanism for shifting said jaws, said jaws and blocks having inclined gripping or working faces, substantially as de scribed.

10. A friction clutch comprising a disioshaped member, a circular series of friction blocks supported thereby, a second clutch member comprising two oppositely disposed disk-shaped jaws for engaging said circular series of blocks and a series of toggle mechanisms for relatively shif ng said jaws, each of said toggle mechanisms comprising a link pivoted to one oi said jaws and extending outwardly in radial direction through the web portion of the other jaw, a bell crank to the angle of which said link is pivoted. said bell crank having an inwardly extending arm pivoted to said last mentioned jaw and an outwardly extending arm, a sliding sleeve and a link pivoted to said sleeve and to the outwardly extending arm of said bell crank, substantially as described.

ii. A l'ricilon clu :h comprising :1 disk member, a circular series or hit curried thereby, a second clutch member comprising a pnir o1" ciiar jaws for engaging said blocks between them. and a series of toggle mechau isms for relatively shifting said jaws, each of said toggle Inccininisms comprising a link pivoted to one of said ja'v and extending outwardly in radial direction through the 'web' portion of the other of said jaws, a pair of bell cranks to the angle of which said link is pivoted, said bell cranks having inwardly extending arms pivoted to said last mentioned jaw and a pair of outwardly extending arms, a sliding sleeve and a. pair of links pivoted to said sliding sleeve and to the outwardly extending arms of said bell cranks, each of said toggle mechanisms being arranged to form in eifect a double toggle-to force said jaws to getlier and securely hold the clutch members in engagement, substantially as described.

12. A friction clutch comprising a member carrying a series of wooden blocks, a second clutch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed circular jaws and a set of double toggles for operating said jaws, said blocks both rotatable with but independently shittabie-in axial direc- Lion upon said first mentioned clutch member and having lugs slidnbly engaging axial guide ways thereon, substantially as described 3. A friction clutch comprising a disk member, a circular series of blocks carried thereby, a second clutch member comprising a pair of circular jaws for engaging said blocks between them and a series of toggle mechanisms for relatively shifting said jaws, each of said toggle mechanisms comprising a link pivoted at one end to one of said jaws, a pair of hell cranks arranged on opposite sides of the other end of said link and pivoted to the other of said jaws, a cross pin extending between said bell cranks and through a slot in the end of said link, a shoe in said slot engaging said cross pin, an adjusting screw engaging said shoe, a sliding sleeve and a link connection between said sleeve and said bell cranks, substantially as described.

14. A friction clutch comprising a member having a circular flange on its periphery that is provided on its inner face with a series of axially extending, dove-tailed guide grooves, a series of separate segmental, block supports having projecting lugs correspondingly shaped with and slidably engaging said grooves, said block supports being independently supported by said lugs upon said flange and being independently shiftable th reon, friction blocks secured to said block supports and a second clutch member comprising a pair of positively disposed jaws for engaging said series of blocks and toggle mechanism for shifting said jaws, substantially as described.

ALBERT MASTER.

Witnesses:

HARRY L. CLAPP, Gno. P. Fisnnn, Jr. 

